Draft Bill spells chiefs’ role

DRAFTING of a Land Commission Bill is complete and it provides chiefs with jurisdiction only over communal land while the Government presides over all matters to do with State land.

There had been contestations over the role of chiefs in issues to do with land, with traditional leaders seeking greater authority.

The Sunday Mail understands that the Draft Bill will soon be tabled in the legislative assembly addressing the issue and seeking to enhance accountability, transparency and fairness in land distribution.

The Bill will also give a clear mandate for the Zimbabwe Land Commission to assess farms and ensure total utilisation.

The commission will take over functions previously performed by the Agricultural Land Resettlement Board.

Lands and Rural Resettlement Minister Dr Douglas Mombeshora told The Sunday Mail last week that the legislation was part of realignment of laws with the 2013 Constitution.

Said Dr Mombeshora: “We are expecting the Senate and the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Lands and Agriculture to meet sometime this week to finalise the Bill. The Ministry expects that all the hitches and outstanding issues will be resolved to ensure that the Bill will be assented to by the President.

“The new law will see the State exercising total control over the land acquired during the Land Reform Programme and traditional chiefs will have no jurisdiction over the land as they will be only limited to their traditional communal areas.

“All unproductive farms and underutilised land will be reduced or given back to the district office for redistribution.”

The Sunday Mail has gathered that the Land Commission Bill provides for periodic land audits to weed out multiple farms owners, resolve land disputes and deal with land reform beneficiaries leasing out farms.

Government recently said several farmers had willingly surrendered portions of their farms since the State introduced land rentals and unit tax in July.

Dr Mombeshora said all farms acquired by Government during the Land Reform Programme remained State-owned, adding that multiple farm owners would soon lose excess holdings.

“All agricultural land that was acquired during the land reform or was identified for such purpose before the commencement of the new Constitution continues to be vested in the State and no compensation is payable in respect of its acquisition except for improvements effected on it before acquisition,” he said.